2017 Lemelson Vineyards Thea's Selection Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 750 ml

Thea’s Selection is one of the most consistent, classic Oregon Pinot Noirs in existence, cruising alongside luxurious member-favorite bottlings from Lange, Cristom, and Soléna—grace in a bottle. With “attractively spicy and earthy nuances,” and a “plush stream of fresh, fleshy red and dark cherries,” the 93-point 2017 is poised to break its own records, cranking the dial on a near-perfect, all-vintage member rating. 

Wine Spectator can’t put every bottle of Thea’s Selection on a Top 100 list—but they did award this 2017 the same exact score as its Top 100 brethren from 2004 and 2014. 

Capturing the magic of the Willamette Valley in its sun-kissed lavishness, cool-climate elegance, mouthwatering freshness, and forest-floor savoriness, Thea’s Selection is sourced from all seven of Lemelson’s estate vineyards. These impeccably manicured vines are spread across the Yamhill-Carlton, Chehalem Mountains, and Dundee Hills AVAs. They’ve been farmed organically since inception, a practice in keeping with founder Eric Lemelson’s overarching philosophy of sustainability. 

Lemelson, who moved to Oregon in the late 70s, was an environmental lawyer before falling in love with Pinot Noir and planting his first vineyard in 1995. He built and continues to improve his gravity-flow winery, which processed its first harvest in 1999, using the most environmentally sound methods and materials available. While costly, the result of Lemelson’s powerful and comprehensive winemaking vision shines in the glass with striking, terroir-driven purity and transparency.

Fermented with native yeasts and then aged for 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels, the dazzling 2017 has subtle notes of vanilla bean and cardamom on its lengthy palate, with fine-grained, silky, polished tannins. 

This is another showstopping Pinot Noir from one of the Willamette Valley’s finest.